United Natural Foods, Inc., today announces that, for the third straight year, it has earned a top score of 100 in the 2024 Disability Equality Index and is being recognized as a Disability Equality Index Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion. UNFI is once again the only North American grocery wholesaler to achieve this score and recognition in 2024.
Led by the company’s associate belonging and innovation group, DREAM (Disability Resources, Equity, Allyship and Mentoring), UNFI is working to advance a culture of inclusion and empathy across its workplace through open dialogue, effective associate training, and by honoring holidays and special events that speak to the identities of the company’s associates. During the past year, UNFI is particularly proud of implementing company-wide mental health awareness training and resources; organizing multiple workshops on parenting a child with special needs; and conducting the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Carry Forward 5K run and fundraiser. In this last event, UNFI associates across the country collectively ran, walked, or biked 176 total miles and raised nearly $10,000. Additional efforts this year include the creation of a series of guides, short- form videos, and best practices for enhancing accessibility on the most utilized digital tools within UNFI, and the launch of virtual body-doubling sessions to boost motivation and productivity by working alongside an accountability partner.
“UNFI acknowledges and praises all our associates who live and work with disabilities, as well as those who serve as caregivers,” said Guillaume Bagal, UNFI’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Wellbeing. “We take incredible pride in being recognized for the third consecutive year as a Disability Equality Index Top Scorer and Best Place to Work. We are committed to ensuring that we remain an employer that promotes accessibility and growth opportunities, combats stigma, fosters disability education and awareness, and ensures both physical and psychological safety for all associates.”
The Index was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is acknowledged today as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business. Now in its ninth year, the Index exists to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment and underemployment of people with disabilities.